Tap



F. E. RICE Sept. 18, 1934.

TAP

Filed July 19, 1933 VEU CZE 73 1727113 2320a b; I W L whereby easierinsertion of the rod is made pos- Patented Sept. 18, 1934 E STATESPATENT or ies TAP Application July 1a 1933, Serial No. 681,052

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to taps and more particularly totaps for beer barrels and the like and to the cooperative constructionof the tap and sealing washer for the pump rod sible, and the rod issecured in the tap in such manner that excessive pressure within thebarrel will not dislodge the rod.

An object of the invention is to provide a tap construction wherebyincreased pressure within the barrel will increase the gripping effectof the rod holding means to prevent accidental displacement of the rodbecause of such pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tap for beer barrels soconstructed as to increase the extent of washer surface exposed topressure conditions in a barrel.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a beer barrel tapconstruction whereby the surface oithe pump rod sealing washer exposedto the pressure conditions in the barrel is increased whereby the washeris thus caused to more firmly grip the rod and prevent its accidentaldisplacement due to the pressure conditions in the barrel.

A further object of the invention is to improve taps for beer barrelsand the like whereby accidental displacement of the pump rod due topressure conditions in the barrel is prevented, and a greater sealingeffect is secured between the sealing washer and the rod.

The above, other and further objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description, accompanying drawing, and appendedclaims:

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the construction of abeer barrel tap and pump rod sealing washer in such manner as to provideincreased washer surface for exposure to pressure conditions in thetapped barrel.

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure l is a view, partially in elevation and partially in verticalsection, of a tap constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmental, vertical sectional view through a tapconstructed in accordance with the present invention showing a beer pumprod in position in the tap, and illustrating another form of theinvention.

Figure 3 is a view of the arrangement of Figure 1 showing the pump rodin position in the tap and the washer deformed as the follower isscrewed home to secure the rod in the tap.

Figure a is a top plan view of a pump sealing washer embodyingprinciples of the present in vention.

The drawing will now be explained:

A tap designated generally as A has the usual sleeve 1 for attaching itto a collar 2 which latter arranged for removable engagement with a tapbush in a keg or barrel D. The tap A has the usual connection 3 forreceiving means for supplying pressure to the interior of the barrelthrough the tap. In the form of tap herein illustrated, the outer endthereof is bored to a greater diameter than the main opening through thetap body. The opening through the tap body is indicated at 3 and theopening in the outer end of the tap at 4. Intermediate the openings 3and 4 is an annular shoulder 5 having an opening 6 therethrough. Theshoulder 5 provides a seat for a sealing washer, designated generally asB. The outer end of the tap A is closed by the usual cap '7 in screwthreaded engagement with the exterior of the outer end of the tap, andwhich cap is provided in its interior with a follower 8 which is adaptedto bear against the sealing washer B and after the pump rod has beeninserted in the tap the follower bears against the sealing washer B tocompress it as the cap is tightened on the tap. Preferably the follower8 is rotatably arranged in the cap 7.

The shoulder 5 has a face 9 in the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 3,against which the face 10 of the sealing washer B engages when the partsare assembled.

One of these faces is tapered or inclined toward the inner or barrel endof the tap for the purpose of providing means for exposing a largerportion of the face of 'the sealing washer to the gas pressure withinthe keg, so that such pressure, instead of tending to dislodge the pumprod C, because of such pressure, will bear against the sealing washer Band because of the increased area of such washer exposed to suchpressure, will tighten the engagement of the washer with the rod toincrease the holding effect of the washer with respect to the rod and atthe same time increase the sealing of the joint about the rod to preventescape of gas pressure from the keg or barrel.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the sealing washerB has its opposite faces parallel, while the face 9 of the shoulder 5 istapered or inclined. A washer contacts the adjacent face of the shoulderat the washer margin, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 where it contactsalong the outer margin and in Figure 2 along the inner marginj In theform of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, the outer face 11 of theshoulder 5 is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tap, thatis, such face is flat or horizontal. The face 12, that is, the adjacentface of the sealing washer -B' is tapered or conical shaped and'arranged with such tapered face toward the inner or barrel end of thetap. This form of the in vention provides a space between the adjacentfaces of the sealing washer and shoulder for increasing the area of thesealing washer exposed to pressure within the keg for more firmlysealing the washer about the pump rod C as heretofore described. a

Figure 3 illustrates the position of the parts after a pump rod C hasbeen applied through the tap A in the usual manner, and the cap '7screwed home to tighten the sealing washer B about the pump rod C. Itwill be observed that the lower face 10 of the sealing washer B hasbecome distorted and assumed a tapered shape. This is caused by the factthat the washer is compressed by the follower 8 as the cap is screwedhome, and because of the fact of the pressure exerted by the sealingwasher B about the pump rod C as the cap is screwed home. It will thusbe observed that the sealing washer'B engages the pump rod C with abiting effect which is in-' creased by pressure conditions within thekeg or barrel thereby augmenting the gripping effect of the sealingwasher B with respect to the rod 0, and thus increase the frictionalengagement of these parts and prevent accidental dislodgement of the roddue to excessive pressure conditions within the keg or barrel, asoftentimes occur in use.

The same biting eifect between the sealing washer and the pump rod Cwould prevail in the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 withthe biting effect especially effective adjacent the face 11 of theshoulder 5.

It will be observed that the present invention contemplates acooperative construction relationship between the sealing washer and thetap shoulder so that there is provided increased area of the sealingwasher exposed to pressure conditions within the keg or barrel,consequently as such pressure increases, the biting effect between thesealing washer and pump rod is increased thereby assuring a tight jointand at the same time preventing accidental dislodgement of the pump roddue to such, increased pressure.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in Figure 2, the gaspressure in the keg or barrel reaches the face 12 of the washer Bthrough the aperture in the shoulder 5.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as todetails yet it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion ofparts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from thespirit shoulder serving to allow fluid passage thereby for increasingthe frictional "engagement of the washer with the rod to prevent endwisedisplace.- ment of the rod by gas pressure within the barrel.

2. Means for restraining a beer barrel pump rod from endwisedisplacement from a beer barrel by gas pressure within the barrel,including a pump rod'having a smooth outer surface free of projections,a tap applied to said barrel and having a rod receiving chamber and awasher supporting shoulder adjacent the outer end of said chamber'andhaving an opening spaced from said rod, a resilient washer encirclingsaid rod and having only its margin against said shoulder with theadjacent face of the washer spaced from the shoulder face, said washerhaving a central open- :ing for the rod the surface of which opening isin contactewith said rod throughout the whole extent of said surface,means engaging said washer for compressing it lengthwise of the rod tofrictionally engage the rod radially thereof, the space between saidshoulder and said rod serving as means for admitting gas pressure fromthe barrel against said washer to increase the squeezing effect of saidwasher against said rod, the rod being prevented from bodily removalfrom the barrel by gas pressurewithin said barrel solely by thefrictional engagement of said washer with said rod.

3. A tap for securing a pump'rod against accidental displacement by gaspressure in a beer barrel or the like only by frictional engagementbetween the tap and the rod, said tap having an opening through it forthe rod and having an annular inwardly extending shoulder, said shoulderdefining an opening of greater diameter than said rod to permit fluidpassage past said shoulder, said shoulder being adapted as a seat for arod washer, the face of said shoulder adjacent the washer being inclinedconvergently toward said shoulder opening, a rod washer having itsopposite faces uninterrupted and parallel and supported with one face inmarginal contact with the shoulder and with the balance of said washerface spaced from said shoulder'face, said washer serving as the soleMeans for retaining saidrod in position in said tap against tendency ofbarrel pressure to dislodge said rod, a follower engageable with saidone end of said tap and having a face in surface contact with theadjacent face of said washer substantially throughout the entire face ofsaid washer, means engaging said tap for moving said follower againstsaid washer to force the washer into gripping engagement with theinserted rod, the face of the washer adjacent the shoulder being forcedout of parallelism with the other face of the washer and deflectedtoward the inclined face of the shoulder as said washer 'is compressedby said follower about said rod and against said shoulder, thedeflection of said named washer face making an obtuse angle with respectto the rod in a direction toward said shoulder and increasing the areaof said washer face exposed to gas pressure in the barrel whereby gaspressure within the barrel enters against such deflected face of saidwasher to increase the holding effect of said washer against said rod.

4. A tap for securing a pump rod against accidental displacement by gaspressure in a beer barrel or the like solely by frictional engagement,said tap having an opening through it for the rod and having an inwardlyextending shoulder, said shoulder defining an opening of greaterdiameter than said rod to permit fluid passage past said shoulder, saidshoulder being adapted as a seat for a rod washer, a rod washersupported on said shoulder with one face thereof adjacent the shoulderface, one of said faces being inclined convergently toward the rod insuch manner that the major portion of the adjacent faces of said washerand shoulder are out of contact, a follower inserted in said tap andhaving a part for surface engagement with said washer, the contactingpart of said follower conforming to the contacted face of said washer toafford surface engagement of said follower against said washer oversubstantially all of said washer face, means for moving said follower tocompress said washer against its seat and against the rod forfrictionally engaging the rod, the space between said shoulder and saidrod admitting gas pressure against the face of the washer adjacent saidshoulder thereby increasing the frictional engagement of said washerwith said rod to prevent endwise displacement of the same with respectto the barrel.

5. A tap having a hollow interior to receive a pump rod, an annularshoulder within said interior having an opening for the rodwhich openingis of greater diameter than the rod to allow fluid passage past saidshoulder, the face of said shoulder remote from the barrel end of saidtap being inclined convergently toward said shoulder opening, a rodwasher against said shoulder having marginal engagement therewithadjacent the periphery of the greater diameter of said inclined face,the opposite faces of said washer being in parallelism, a followercooperatively associated with said tap adjacent its outer end and havinga flat part for surface engagement with the adjacent face of the washer,said follower being operable to compress said washer about the insertedrod and in a direction toward said'shoulder, the compression of saidwasher by said follower distorting the washer in such manner as todeform the lower face thereof out of parallelism with its upper face andinclined such lower face with respect to the rod and toward the inclinedface of said shoulder, said lower face of said washer making an obtuseangle with said rod in the direction toward said shoulder, the spacebetween said shoulder and rod admitting barrel pressure past saidshoulder and against the lower face of said washer to increase theholding effect of said washer against the rod, the rod being restrainedagainst endwise movement solely by the gripping engagement thereof bysaid washer.

6. In a device of the class described, a vertically disposed member forsurrounding a pipe, supporting means on said member, a packing on saidsupporting means and surrounding said pipe, means for compressing thepacking to support the weight of the pipe and forming a high pressureseal, said packing when compressed having a part making an obtuse anglewith said pipe, and said supporting means being so fashioned as toexpose said packing part to fiuid pressure to increase the holdingengagement of said packing with said pipe.

FRANK E. RICE.

